Кінець рабства

           Icouldnever,somehow,imaginehimeitheryoungerorolder—don’tyouknow.Therewasasenseofphysicalpoweraboutthatmantoo.Andperhapsthatwasthesecretofthatsomethingpeculiarinhispersonwhichstruckeverybodywhocameincontactwithhim.Helookedindestructiblebyanyordinarymeansthatputanendtotherestofus.Hisdeliberate,statelycourtesyofmannerwasfullofsignificance.Itwasasthoughhewerecertainofhavingplentyoftimeforeverything.Yes,therewassomethingindestructibleabouthim;andthewayhetalkedsometimesyoumighthavethoughthebelievedithimself.Whenhecalledonmelastwiththatletterhewantedmetotakechargeof,hewasnotdepressedatall.Perhapsashademoredeliberateinhistalkandmanner.Notdepressedintheleast.Hadheapresentiment,Iwonder?Perhaps!Stillitseemsamiserableendforsuchastrikingfigure.”

           “Ohyes!Itwasamiserableend,”Mr.VanWyksaid,withsomuchfervorthatthelawyerlookedupathimcuriously;andafterwards,afterpartingwithhim,heremarkedtoanacquaintance—

           “QueerpersonthatDutchtobacco-planterfromBatuBeru.Knowanythingofhim?”

           “Heapsofmoney,”answeredthebankmanager.“Ihearhe’sgoinghomebythenextmailtoformacompanytotakeoverhisestates.Anothertobaccodistrictthrownopen.He’swise,Ithink.Thesegoodtimeswon’tlastforever.”

           InthesouthernhemisphereCaptainWhalley’sdaughterhadnopresentimentofevilwhensheopenedtheenvelopeaddressedtoherinthelawyer’shandwriting.